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Barcelona terror attack: Spain hunts for van driver

Barcelona terror attack: Spain hunts for van driver

Spain mounts a sweeping anti-terror operation after a suspected Islamist militant drove a van into crowds in Barcelona, killing 13 people before fleeing, in what police suspect was one of multiple planned attacks.

Video shows horrific aftermath in Barcelona

Branson pleads for lives of Bali nine duo

Sir Richard adds his voice to calls for clemency for Bali 9 members Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop made the offer in a letter sent to her Indonesian counterpart last Thursday, two days after their heated phone call in which Australia raised the idea of a prisoner exchange deal.

"The president is of the position that such an exchange cannot be undertaken."

Ms Marsudi did not address Australia's offer to pay the life imprisonment costs but reaffirmed her commitment to "strengthening and elevating" the good bilateral relationship between the two countries.

"These were preliminary discussions, I put the proposal to Foreign Minister Marsudi; I'm yet to have a response on that specific issue," Ms Bishop said.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said he would speak directly to Ms Bishop before declaring whether Labor would support paying Indonesia for the pair's prison costs.

"But I do support the government doing whatever it can to prevent this absolutely needless execution going ahead," he said.

The timing of the Bali nine pair's executions remains unclear, although their recent transfer to the so-called "execution Island" suggests they will soon face the firing squad.